[Mr. Sandwich]

While I appreciate this post, let's set something straight once and for all... Lawrence County has rarely, under any coach, played demanding non-district schedule and done well with it.
Back in '98, when no one was slamming them for playing "cupcakes" they opened with a pair of teams that went 1-19 between them.
In '99 they opened with a good (not great) Harlan team and then played stiffs - including a not real good Belfry team - until they hit district play.
Let's dispense with the "we played the best to be the best" talk because it simply isn't the case.
In the 90s heyday, the Dawgs routinely played traditional rivals in non-district play and those rivals were rarely any good. With the exception of Shelby Valley and East Ridge, last season's schedule was parallel with a mid 90s schedule. And, frankly, SV and ER might have been an upgrade over some of the 90s opponents.
The thing that made the 90s great was being in situations where LC could compete size-wise in the playoffs and that might return with the realignment. But let's be honest and admit we never, ever played a super non-district schedule and did well with it.

So you're saying Shelby Valley or East Ridge could have competed with teams like Ashland, Belfry, Breathitt County, Covington-Holmes, Newport, Whitesburg, Mason County or even that Harlan team we demolished? No sir. Maybe now.... But not those teams.